DP3 is a new offshore vessel positioning technology standard set by IMO that will enable a couple of new Farstad offshore vessels on the stocks in Norway to work safely in the most demanding and potentially dangerous situations using systems equipment provided by Rolls Royce.Basically, to maintain an accurate position determined mainly by satellite navigation system (anchoring is not in itself precise enough) an offshore vessel needs to be equipped with propulsors and thrusters controlled automatically by a dynamic positioning (DP) system in such a way as to oppose the resultant force of wind, waves, tides and currents.
Dynamic positioning, propulsion & thruster schematic: Courtesy of Rolls-Royce
Deep-water drilling for oil or gas (common now as shallower resources deplete) is an operation that often carries with it the need for jack-ups, construction and support vessels to operate in extremely demanding situations where any loss of position might result in fatal accidents, severe ... [More]